Can-label cutter



J- C. THOM CANLABEL CUTTER Jan.

Filed Dec 4. 1925 IN V EN TOR. chimes 6. 7/10/77 Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

iN I TED AT ES 1,614,578 P NT OFFICE.

'JAMES CJ TI-I'OM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO- COMBINATIONMAGHINE COM- PANYyOF NEW'YOBKfN. "5. A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

CAN-LABEL CUTTER.

"Applicationv filed December "This invention is an improvement in canlabel cutters, and more particularly in cutters of a novelty typecapable of utilization for purposes other than label cutting, as forinstance, as an ash orpin tray.

Tobacco products, such as smoking tobacco,'cigarettes and the-like, aresupplied in containers of sheet metal, the container including a bodyand a slipover cover, and the package reaches the consumer with a labelcovering and hiding the line of junction be-. tween cover and body. Anindication is sometimes provided at the junction line indicating theline to cut, and the cutting is usually done by a pointedinstrument,.such as-a penkniiie. This, however, is unsatisfactory,'asthe cutting operation dulls the blade, and it is difficult "to followthe indicating line. 7

One of the primary objects of the present invention is the provision ofan instrument for severing thela-bel on the junction line, and with 'acontinuous cut wherein the instrument itself provides mechanism forseating-the container insuch manner that the cut'may be made at theproper point, and wherein the cutting is done by relative angularmovement of the container and the instrument.

Another object is the 'provision' of a sirnple inexpensive articlescapable of other uses in-a ddition to its'function as a label-cutter,such for instance, as a receptacle for small articles. ashes and'thelike.

Another object is the provision in such an instrument including a guidecavity for re ceiving the end of the container and the cutters, arrangedat-a level such that when the container is seated in the cavity, theywill be at: the line of junction between the body and cover, a means tofacilitate the'grasping and holding of the cutter during the cuttingoperation.

In the drawings:

Fig. lis a prospective view of the-inproved cutter in use.

Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the improved cutter.

Fig. 5 is a side view of a container with which the cutter is adapted tobe used, showin the label cut.

11 the present embodiment of the inven- 4, 1925. Serial No..73,149.

tion the improved cutter is a substantially cup-shaped member, of adiameter to .receive an end of the container with which itis adapted tocooperate, and provided with cutters spaced above the' floor ofthecavity, at a height such that-when the container. is inserted in thecavity with the cover end resting on the bottom thereof, the cutterswill beat the junction line between the body and cover.

As shown, the cutter is cup-shaped, including a floor, or bottom 1,andan annular side wall. 2, extending upwardly at airight angle from thefloor. The arrangement thus provides a receptacle in the form of an ashor pin tray. The central portion of the floor} is depressed as shown,providing thus an an nular ledge 3 at'the side wall, upon which thecover 4: of a. container 5is adapted to rest. The cavity is of adiameter to easily and loosely receive the cover end of the container,and a plurality of cutters 5 is struck up from the side wall 2.

To provide these cutters, are. shaped cuts are'made in the side wall,and the 'material within the cuts is bent substantially parallel withthe ledge 3. Thus each cutter extends radially inward towardthe centeror: the cavity, and they are spaced above the ledge 8 a distance suchthat when the cover endxof the container is inserted in the.cavityresting on the ledge 3, the cutters 5'willbe at the line ofjunction between cover arid-body.

Two cutters are provided in the'present in stance spaced apart from eachother at an angle of about 120,but it is obvious that one might be usedor several if desired. ."The diameter or the cavity is such thatthe-cutters do not interfere with the placing er the container in thecavity, and it willzbe obvious that when so placed and'the containersandthe instrument are moved angularly with respect to each other, thecutters "will be forced through the label 6, which'coversithe junctionbetween cover and body 'on the" line" of the junction, thus releasingthe cover from the body.

It will be understood that-somepressure is exerted to .hold thecontainer; against the cutters," and the cutting is facilitatedby havinga plurality of cutters. In order to facilitate the operation of labelcutting, and also to improve the appearance of the instrument, acircular frame is provided and a v relatively large cross section, to begrasped when using the instrument. To provide this frame, a flange 7extends radially outward from the margin of the side wall 2, and at itsouter edge the frame is provided with a depending skirt 8 substantiallyparallel with the side wall 2 and spaced outwardly ther from the widthof the flange. Beads 9, 10 and 11, are provided between the flange andside wall, the skirt and flange and at the free edge of the flange,respectively.

Between the beads 9 and 10 there is a plane, annular surface, which ifdesired may carry display matter, indicated at 12. This matter may beembossed on the plane surface, or in any other manner, as for instance,by printing directly on the surface, or by pasting on a label. Thedepressed portion of the floor 1, may also be provided with display.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the bead 11 is at about thelevel of the floor of the cavity. Thus a broad base is provided for thecutter to limit the liability of acci dental over-turning. Preferably,the outer face of the skirt 8 is roughened, as shown in Fig. 1, as forinstance by ribbing or corrugating, to provide a firm grasp during themanipulation of the instrument.

lVhile in Fig. 1 the container is shown as seated in the cavity in aninverted position, it is obvious that the instrument might be invertedand seated over the container, with the container in normal uprightposition. This possibly would be the preferred method of using, but inany event, the cavity furnishes a guide, not only for centering thecontainer, but for gauging the depth of the insertion, so that thecutters are at the left of, the line of conjunction.

I claim 1. A label cutter including a cup shaped member having a cavityof a size to loosely receive the end of a selected container, fixedcutting means extending into the cavity of the member from the side wallthereof, and spaced above the bottom thereof to support the containerwith the cutting means at a selected level with respect to thecontainer, the cutting means arranged to cut laterally andcircumferentially of the container, whereby relative angular movement ofthe member and the container will cut the label.

2. A label cutter including a cup shaped member having a cavity of asize to loosely receive the end of a selected container, fixed cuttingsmeans extending into the cavity of the member from the side wallthereof, and 5 need above the bottom thereof to support t e containerwith the cutting means at a selected level with respect to thecontainer,

the cutting means arranged to cut laterally and circumferentially of thecontainer,

whereby relative angular movement of the member and the container willcut the label, the member having an integral annular frame encirclingthe same to provide a'substantial grip for manipulation.

3. A label cutter including a cup shaped member having a cavity of asize to loosely receive the end of a selected container, fixed cuttingmeans extending into the cavity of the member from the side wallthereof, and spaced above the bottom thereof to support the containerwith the cutting means at a selected level with respect to thecontainer, the cutting means arranged to cut laterally andcircumferentially of the container, whereby relative angular movement ofthe member and the container will cut the label, the member having anintegral annular frame encircling the same to provide a substantial gripfor manipulation, the frame including a marginal outwardly extendingflange at the top of the member provided at its outer edge with acontinuous skirt sub stantially parallel with the side wall of themember and extending to substantially the level of the bottom thereof.

t. A label cutter including a cup shaped member having a cavity of asize to loosely receive the end of a selected container, fixed cuttingmeans extending into the cavity of the member from the side wallthereof, and spaced above the bottom thereof to support the containerwith the cutting means at a T1 selected level with respect to thecontainer, said cutting means arranged to operate by relative angularmovement of the member and container, the cutting means includingintegral spurs spaced apart angularly from each other.

5. A device of the class described, including a substantially cup shapedmember having at the open top thereof an annular integral invertedsubstantially channel shaped frame to provide a grip, and integral spursextending into the cavity of the member from the side wall thereof inspaced relation,

said spurs having lateral cutting edges, and

an annular ledge between the side wall and the bottom of the member forengagement by a container of tobacco or the like to properly positionthe spurs with respect to the container to out along a selected linewhen the container and the member are moved angularly with respect toeach other.

Signed at Chicago in the county of Cook and State of Illinois this 27thday of li evember A. D. 1925.

JAMES C. THOM.

